In my mind’s eye, there is a romantic, warmly lit image of Los Angeles at its apex—with strident, 1930s architecture; big-money entertainment deals; inventive engineers changing the world; and those somewhat less resourceful successfully working to build their lives.  There are still glimpses of that era, archeological evidence of it yet in plain site—if you look hard.

The reality of the city is no longer easy to sidestep.  But unlike many other large U.S. cities, where the destitute and downtrodden fade into a tableau of dirty grayness, Los Angeles has the light of a romantic movie set.  The incongruity can make everything you see simultaneously more believable, and more unbelievable.